28000 Block of Eridanus Drive, Sun City: Officers Fire After a Taser Fails During a Family Disturbance Call
MENIFEE, CALIFORNIA (November 11, 2026): Ismel Armenta, 32, of Menifee, was wounded in a Menifee police shooting at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at a home in the 28000 block of Eridanus Drive, near Milky Way, in the Sun City community, according to the Menifee Police Department. MyNewsLA and Menifee 24/7 reported the shooting, citing the department.
Family members called 911 to report an altercation at the home and said Armenta had tried to assault them, according to the department. Two patrol officers arrived within minutes and encountered Armenta, who police said was armed with a knife and did not follow the officers’ commands. The officers tried to use a Taser, but it was “ineffective,” Capt. Paul Barbieri said, as reported by MyNewsLA. Police said Armenta then advanced toward the officers, and an officer-involved shooting followed.
After securing the knife, the officers gave first aid and Riverside County Fire Department paramedics took Armenta to a regional trauma center, where he was listed in stable condition on Thursday, the department said. The two officers were not hurt and were placed on paid administrative leave. The Riverside County Force Investigations Detail, made up of sheriff’s detectives and District Attorney’s Office personnel, will investigate the shooting, MyNewsLA reported. Police have not said whether Armenta will face charges. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The department has not said how many shots were fired, where Armenta was struck, how far he was from the officers, whether anyone in the home was hurt or whether body-worn cameras recorded the encounter. This account comes from the department, and the full sequence has not yet been independently reviewed. These are early accounts. Fault is determined by investigators and, in civil cases, by the courts, and initial findings sometimes change.
Liability for the Menifee Police Shooting
California law limits when officers may use deadly force. California Penal Code § 835a generally allows a peace officer to use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that it is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury, and the statute calls on officers to use other available resources and techniques when reasonably safe and feasible. Federal civil rights law, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, generally allows people to seek damages when government officers use excessive force, and in Hayes v. County of San Diego (2013) the California Supreme Court held that an officer’s tactical conduct before a shooting can be considered in deciding whether the force was reasonable.
- The knife and the distance: Police said Armenta was armed with a knife and advanced toward the officers. How far away he was and where the knife was when shots were fired are facts that video and witnesses may show.
- The Taser: Officers tried a Taser first, the department said. Whether other options, such as time, distance or cover, remained after it failed is part of any review of tactics under Hayes.
- The family call: The officers were responding to a 911 call about a family disturbance. What the callers told dispatchers and what the officers knew when they arrived can matter to how the encounter is evaluated.
- Independent review: The Force Investigations Detail will examine the officers’ tactics. Its findings, and any decision by the District Attorney’s Office, may confirm or change the department’s account.
These are general principles of California and federal law, not conclusions about this shooting, which remains under investigation.
Steps to Take After a Menifee Police Shooting
Under California Government Code § 12525.2, every law enforcement agency in the state must report to the California Department of Justice each incident in which a peace officer shoots a civilian. People who were hurt and their families can take these steps:
- Ask for the case number: Ask the Menifee Police Department for the report number and the name of the investigator assigned to the case.
- Keep medical records: Save hospital records, discharge papers, photos of injuries and bills from the trauma center and any follow-up care.
- Preserve witness information: Write down the names and contact information of family members, neighbors or anyone who saw or heard the encounter, and save any photos or video.
- Ask about the video: Ask the department how body-worn camera video of the encounter will be made available.
Legal deadlines and notice requirements apply after a crash, injury or death, and they vary with the facts of each case, the location and the parties involved, including any public agency. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Investigating the Menifee Police Shooting
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, wish a full recovery to Ismel Armenta and recognize how difficult this is for his family. Important questions remain: After the Taser failed, was there time and distance for the officers to try other options? And what will body camera video show about where Armenta and the knife were when the officers fired? Earlier this week we also reported on a fatal Riverside police shooting near University and Douglas avenues.
If you or a loved one has been affected by a police or deputy shooting anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on November 12, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on November 11, 2026.
